Law Enforcement: Responsibilities and Details Research Paper

Law Enforcement Function

• Analyze the influence of the criminal justice model on the structure and mission of a local police department. In other words, how would a police department exhibit different structure and procedures under the crime control model than it would under the due process model?

The influence of the criminal justice model on the structure and mission of a particular police department is indeed significant. The criminal justice model is one which would focus on elements such as the crime control model, as opposed to the due process model, which focuses more on the right of the accused and the right of all individuals to have his or her day in court. A range of strategies are typically used to engage in the crime control model with any level of effectiveness. There's a strong level of reasoning to support this mentality as well, and they all generally revolve around taking a strong assault against criminal actions or behaviors which encourage crime and a climate of unsafeness. "The term 'War on Crime' is commonly referred to by politicians and law enforcement as a means to identify, pursue, isolate, and ultimately eliminate the criminal element in our society" (Perron, 2014).

In such a methodology, the goals refer to focusing on high crime areas often by increasing the amount of police surveillance, often times via profiling, a higher amount of patrols and traffic stops, sting operations, observation and surveillance, raids and searches, and other aggressive actions generally used to shatter the spine of most criminal activity for good or for a substantial amount of time (Perron, 2014). With a crime control model in place, it opens the door for much controversy, because often times there are a sacrifice of individual rights. Those who support this particular model generally argue that such individual rights have to be sacrificed for the greater good of the collective and that this is natural and fine (Perron, 2014). This particular strategy can be effective as criminals become the direct and immediate target of all law enforcement agencies and because their such direct targets, it's possible to see entire neighborhoods go through a level of renaissance: neighborhoods which have been riddled by things like prostitution, gang violence and drugs can be cleared out and made safe again (Perron, 2014). These methods of law enforcement are however, intense, take time, organization and lots of resources.

Discuss the relationship between neighborhood disorder and crime. What should be the role of the police in dealing with elements of neighborhood disorder, such as abandoned property, inoperative streetlights, and the like?

The theory of neighborhood disorder and crime is indeed an intensive one; with many theorists have developed philosophies about how neighborhood disorder creates a situation where crime can flourish. One of the most popular theories on the subject at large is the broken window theory which was developed by social scientists James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling who detailed it in their 1982 article which was published in The Atlantic. Wilson and Kelling developed a theory which created a strong connection between neighborhood disorder and crime. "The 'broken window' is a symbol of unaccountability. If one window in a building is broken and left unfixed, they argued, it is likely that the rest of the windows will be broken soon, too. The idea is that people -- specifically potential criminals -- take cues from their surroundings and calibrate their behavior based on what they see. If a city block is litter-free and its buildings are well-maintained, people will be less likely to litter or vandalize there, because they will sense that they will be held accountable if they do so" (Kirchner, 2014). Thus what this theory demonstrates is that neighborhood disorder is not just an aesthetic issue, but that it creates an environment of chaos: no one is in charge and no rules are enforced.

This can create a skewed and diseased mentality where people feel as though nothing matters: if there's no consequence for littering then there's no consequence for stealing or selling drugs either. The disorder in a given community can become a breeding ground for lawlessness. Police should thus be in charge of helping to guide a community in establishing order and accountability. Police can help to make sure that the community leaders have the support that they need in basic arenas of upkeep and the establishment of peace and safety, even when it comes to things like keeping streetlights lit and public parks free of broken glass and litter.Thus, for these basic pillars of community organization and order, the police can act as pillars of support.

• How the mission and the structure of a police department or sheriff's office would differ between urban and rural areas?

In certain respects, the mission and structure of a police department or sheriff's office shouldn't differ much in urban and rural areas. At the core of a police department, the mission should still be to serve and protect the community to the fullest and most complete level of capability of the police department. There is still an organized chain of command and seniority that needs to persist in both urban and rural areas. In both urban and rural areas, crime does indeed persist; it just may be more apparent and aggravated in urban areas. Urban areas might have more overt "dope corners" or "drug houses" more apparent pockets of where crime occurs, but rural areas also have their share of criminals and criminal activities. The police department just has to employ a higher level of organization and engage in more invasive techniques when it comes to fighting crime in more rural areas. In those areas there tends to be more community support, so the police force should absolutely take advantage of that difference.

• What is social disorganization and how does it contribute to criminality? Analyze whether nonconforming behavior a result of poverty. Should poverty or social disorganization be a consideration when an offender is being sentenced?

Social disorganization is another branch of the "broken window" theory and is a valid pillar about how a certain level of chaos in the physical or social environment can create an atmosphere which is conducive to crime and criminal activity. Social disorganization generally occurs in neighborhoods where certain institutional pillars of the community were weak -- such as the church or schools. This creates a lack of a sense of community and cohesiveness. It contributes to the overall feeling and sensation that no one is held responsible and no one is in charge. This creates free reign for crime to flourish, unfortunately. "Thus, a neighborhood characterized by social disorganization provides fertile soil for crime and delinquency in two ways: through a lack of behavioral control mechanisms and through the cultural transmission of delinquent values" (children.gov.on.ca). Thus, in a neighborhood where there is little structure and high amounts of social disorganization, crime is able to easily flourish via the fact that no one is in charge and there are no consequences to be enforced for delinquent actions. Furthermore, delinquent values are able to flourish and those become the norm unfortunately.

• What role should politicians play in determining the structure and role of local police? In what ways can a local or state-level politician address crime by dealing with social disorganization? Consider the theories discussed earlier in the course.

Politicians have intensive amounts of responsibility that they owe the communities that they live in. Politicians are responsible for having close contact with the community and having a more nuanced understanding of the needs of a particular community. They need to have the bravery and the willingness to work with their local police forces to help move forward in supporting those needs. Politicians have a massive opportunity in being able to correct some of the more invasive issues of social disorganization. Politicians are more able to grapple with the needs of the community and to make real changes like improving schools, creating community centers, and getting control of funds so that crucial community needs can be fulfilled. Politicians have the ability to push legislation which can create more jobs so that there are more economic opportunities for people in need.

Once there is a more established middle class, a given neighborhood will be more stable and more resistant to crime and criminal activity. Politicians can have a really powerful impact in that regard. In the greatest sense, politicians have the ability to correct social injustices, such as the lack of opportunities provided for certain ethnic groups or genders in the workplace, along with the underfunding that inner-city schools often face -- a fact which often perpetuates the lack of opportunities for certain socioeconomic classes later on in life. Thus, politicians need to have the impetus to actively partner with community members so that they can be in touch with the needs of the community to begin with and understand how those needs are ever changing. The needs grow and adapt over time….....